Acquiring adult braces in Harwood is one of many amazing processes for straightening your smile. Because your braces are coming in close contact with the things you eat and drink, your dental hygiene routine now needs to adapt around your braces. Here are a few tips on how to take care of your braces to maximise your end results.

Do: Brush the steel after every meal

We are all well aware that we should be brushing our teeth twice a day, However, because braces have many mini crevasses, foods are more likely to become lodged between the gaps of your braces. If the food is left behind, these food particles slowly feed the harmful bacteria in your mouth. In turn, these bacteria can wear away at your dental enamel and gums— eventually leading to tooth decay, discoloration, gingivitis, and more. After brushing, using dental floss or interdental brushes can help to remove the pieces of food left behind from in between the wires and brackets.

Don’t: Stay clear of specific snacks

The performance and duration of your orthodontic journey all depends on the care given to your smile. With some food being perfectly fine for your braces, other food can be damaging and can cause breakage or movement of the wires. Hard foods such as boil sweets, nuts, apples etc can all possibly cause the brackets to pop off or the wires to move in a different position, this means that you will need to visit your dentist to get them fixed and readjusted. You might also want to keep clear of sticky and chewy foods such as chewing gum, gummy sweets, toffee etc. Not only will eating foods like these be bad for your teeth, these types of consumables are also prone to cling to hard surfaces such as your braces, making it harder to remove.

Do: Attend dental appointments as required

While undergoing this straightening process it’s important to visit your dentist in Bolton regularly for checks and adjustments, this allows the dentist to analyse how the braces are performing and what action needs to be taken next in your braces journey. Not attending your appointment as required mean that your straightening process will come to a holt and the duration of your treatment can extend.

If you have any questions regarding your braces or the process, feel free to contact us at Harwood Dental, Harwood. Our team in Bolton will be more than happy to answer your questions and concerns. For more information on our braces, take a look at our braces page.